Why We Should Have The Green Corridor
from AsiaIsGreen
Macro Photography Workshop @ SBG 显微摄影
from PurpleMangrove
Nothing New Along A Forest Trail
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
Trigger happy in my neighbourhood
from Urban Forest
Dragoflies @ LT
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
Life History of the Malayan Lascar
from Butterflies of Singapore
Contamination unlikely, but the agency is playing it safe
Grace Chua Straits Times 31 Oct 10;
Estrogen contamination in the water sources here may be unlikely, but Singapore's national water agency is not taking any chances.
Earlier this month, the PUB called a tender to test for estrogen compounds in water samples taken from reservoirs, canals, sewage and other inland water bodies. It previously monitored the chemical here every month - one of about 200 other organic chemicals it tests for - when the reclaimed Newater was introduced in 2003.
A few years ago, after finding no estrogen in drinking water, Newater or desalinated water, it dropped the monitoring frequency to twice yearly.
Organic chemicals, such as estrogen, are passed out in human and animal waste from natural and artificial sources.
Keeping these chemicals out of the water supply is vital as high levels of exposure can interfere with the body's natural hormones, and have been linked to reproductive defects in animals.
In Singapore, the use of estrogen medications is low because people here do not generally take to hormone-containing drugs, explained obstetrician- gynaecologist Christopher Ng of the GynaeMD Women's and Rejuvenation Clinic.
A mere 3 per cent to 5 per cent of women of child-bearing age use hormonal contraceptives, such as the Pill, while probably even fewer menopausal women use hormone replacement therapy, he reckoned.
But use of such medications is expected to rise in a generation or two, as people become more aware of and educated about them, he said.
But academics and PUB experts say leaks into the water sources here are not a big risk. While wastewater sometimes contains low levels of estrogens, it is not discharged into reservoirs.
Instead, wastewater flows through Singapore's deep tunnel sewage system to treatment plants, where it is treated and discharged into the sea.
Professor Ng Wun Jern, executive director of Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, explained that hormone concentrations in wastewater treatment effluent are typically low - from a few nanograms per litre to micrograms per litre. He added that drinking-water treatment processes, such as the reverse-osmosis membranes used in Newater and desalination, are able to filter them out.
But National University of Singapore environmental toxicologist Barry Kelly noted that endocrine-disrupting chemicals can leach into water from old sewage pipes and landfill sites. Some, such as flame retardants, are found in everyday household items and may also be present in air and dust.
'Some of these compounds may end up in reservoirs via atmospheric deposition and through run-off following rain,' he said.
Besides estrogen compounds, the PUB tests for certain persistent organic pollutants which do not break down easily and stay in the environment for a long time.
Dr Kelly explained that there is probably not much cause for alarm.
'Ultimately, it is the dose that makes the poison. Thus, while residues of these chemicals are undoubtedly present at low levels in our homes and in the environment, the question remains whether these levels are high enough to cause effects in people.'
Modified car can be charged from socket, and run fully on electricity
Chong Zi Liang Straits Times 31 Oct 10;
The Toyota Prius may already be a petrol saver, but a team of researchers hopes to squeeze even more fuel efficiency out of the hybrid car.
GP Batteries is collaborating with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to road-test a Prius modified in Hong Kong that can be charged from an electric socket and run fully on electricity.
That would save about 3 litres of petrol or about $5 a day for a typical motorist whose daily commute to and from work makes up the bulk of his travelling. The conversion cost? About $16,300.
The team's aim is to study the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle's performance in Singapore's climate and driving conditions. GP Batteries' director of special projects Wong Kin Pun explained that batteries are sensitive to temperature and Singapore's tropical climate can affect the performance of the battery, which was originally designed in the US.
City driving, with frequent starts and stops, is also vastly different from cross-country driving. There is therefore a need to collect data from the vehicle to re-calibrate the battery.
So far, the converted Prius can travel about 30km purely on electricity. It takes four to six hours to fully charge the car and juicing up the battery will add $1.20 to your utility bill. But Mr Wong said that it is still early days yet and the modification of Priuses on Singapore roads will take time.
For one thing, the study will conclude only in March next year. Secondly, Singapore still lacks widely available charging stations to make plug-in conversion an attractive option for consumers.
But Mr Wong has his eye on companies with fleets of the hybrid car. He has contacted Prime Taxi, which owns about 40 Prius taxis, and the company has expressed interest in the technology.
The conversion process can be completed in a day by taking out the original Toyota battery and putting in a bigger, more powerful GP one - installed in the space where the spare tyre is kept. Because of the new battery's weight, the vehicle's back suspension is reinforced to support the 100kg weight gain.
But the most visible change to the user is an added panel on the dashboard which displays the different options for powering the vehicle.
Choosing between the original hybrid system and 'true electric vehicle' mode, as the modifiers put it, is as simple as pressing the right button on the panel.
It even has a third option that allows users to indicate the estimated distance of their journey. The computer system will then decide the right mix of electrical and engine power to make sure the battery lasts the whole journey.
Testing of the vehicle began in March this year, when two NUS engineering students began their internships at GP Batteries.
When the project ends next year, the engineering faculty plans to allow more students to take part in similar studies.
This will be done by studying future transport systems under the design-centric curriculum of the faculty, which aims to bring in real-world projects through partnerships with industry.
Quiet and surreal ride
Straits Times 31 Oct 10;
Silence is golden, especially when driving an electric vehicle.
Refraining from conversation or turning on the radio was the only way to appreciate how quiet the plug-in hybrid was when running on full electric mode.
I was used to the silent start of the vehicle, having driven hybrid cars occasionally, but when the silence prevailed as I continued on my spin around the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus, my driving experience took on a surreal feel.
The usual reassurance of a roaring engine was missing, yet the vehicle was moving along just fine. It reminded me of the time I drove a golf buggy, only this time, I was not negotiating grass fairways but actual tarmac roads.
Mr Wong Kin Pun, GP Batteries' director of special projects, said the internal combustion engine of the Prius will come to life when the battery charge falls below 20 per cent, or when an extra 'oomph' that electricity alone cannot provide is needed.
Indeed, as I drove up a slope on the hilly NUS grounds, I tapped the accelerator more to carry the car up faster, only for the engine to kick in and spoil my quiet time.
But Mr Wong said the Prius still packs a punch. It is capable of reaching 110kmh while running purely on electricity.
Not too bad for a golf buggy.
Chong Zi Liang
Straits Times 30 Oct 10;
A NEW $6 million logistics hub equipped with the latest green technology has been opened by a French energy solutions firm in Penjuru Lane in Jurong.
Schneider Electric's new 14,000 sq m Hub Asia - one of only two Schneider global hubs - is able to handle more than 110,000 cubic m of cargo yearly from 50 suppliers in 17 countries.
Serving more than 170 customers in 31 countries, it is able to shave up to 30 per cent off its energy costs - or $68,000 a year- through the use of devices such as LED lights instead of conventional bulbs and sensors that switch off lighting when not in use.
Strong sea breezes mean that the facility does not need energy-guzzling industrial fans.
Mr Stuart Thorogood, president of Schneider Electric South-east Asia, said Singapore was chosen because of its strategic position, skilled workforce and strong state support.
'The Economic Development Board (EDB) was very helpful in assisting us with the setting up of Hub Asia,' said Mr Thorogood.
The company considered Hong Kong and Shanghai as possible sites, but Singapore won out mainly because of its central location in Asia-Pacific.
Mr Bruno Lesage, Hub Asia's director, said more workers will soon be taken on at the site, given that it is used as a springboard to reach emerging markets across the region.
'We started with about 90 staff. But we plan to have 190 by the end of this year,' he said.
The firm's international operations in Singapore date back to August 1993, when a logistics site, serving mainly South-east Asia, was opened. Schneider's presence in Singapore began in 1973, with a local distribution centre.
Mr Tan Choon Shian, EDB's deputy managing director and guest of honour at the opening ceremony this week, drew attention to the city state's growing role as a logistics centre.
'Recognising the strength of the talent pool available in Singapore, leading multinational companies such as Schneider Electric have made Singapore an important base for their regional and global operations,' he said.
DHEVARAJAN DEVADAS
Antara 29 Oct 10;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono on Friday stated the government was considering to relocate people living on small islands in Sumatra to places where they would be safe from tsunamis.
The minister said so in relation to prediction that small islands in Sumatra are vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis as had happened in Mentawai island last Monday (Oct 25) where a tsunami wave struck the area 15 minutes after a 7.2 earthquake.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed me to draft a government regulation related to the relocation plan. We will discuss this matter soon after the emergency response period and rehabilitation of the impacted area are over," Agung said.
"The places to which they will relocated will probably not be too far from their original homes but we will make sure that the new housing complexes to be built for the displaced people will be located in safe areas such as near hills or on higher land," Agung said.
The minister added the government would review the discourse thoroughly before implementing it.
Indonesia is prone to seismic upheavals due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arch of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
Last 2009, a scary prediction was made by Kerry Sieh, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, who said that a colossal earthquake may hit Indonesia`s Sumatra island within 30 years, triggering a tsunami and making the September 2009 quake in West Sumatra that measured 8.2 on the Richter scale and had taken more than 1000 lives look tiny by comparison, AFP reported.
"We expect it will be about a magnitude 8.8, plus or minus say 0.1," Sieh, an American professor, said at a presentation at the Nanyang Technological University.
Based on historical earthquake trends from geological analysis of coral specimens from the region, the 2009 quake was just a precursor, Sieh said.
Geologists from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) recently also conducted a study on the possibility of another earthquake happening in West Sumatra and came up with the conclusion that a major temblor could occur any time.
Based on the study`s results, the LIPI geologists team predicted that an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale with its epicenter located beneath the Siberut and Sipora Islands could happen any time.(*)
In October alone, Indonesia hit by three natural disasters
Fardah Antara 31 Oct 10;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Earth is getting older, judging by the increased frequency of natural disasters in the world lately, especially in Indonesia.
During this October alone, parts of the country have been seriously affected by three major disasters. The first one was a flash flood in Wasior, West Papua Province, on October 3.
The second was a magnitude-7.7 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami in Mentawai Island District, West Sumatra Province, on October 25.
And the third is still going on, namely the Mount Merapi eruption, a process which began on October 26 on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta.
The Wasior flash flood killed 124 people, left 123 others missing, injured 185 others seriously, and 535 lightly.
Wasior is a town densely inhabited by around 7,000 people. The flood made around 4,000 people homeless. Some 1,955 displaced Wasior residents were evacuated to Nabire, 890 to Manokwari and some others to the Teluk Wondama area. A total of 12 school buildings and one hospital were damaged by the flash flood.
The flash flood was triggered by incessant heavy rains that had fallen in the region from Sunday to Monday (Oct 3 and 4). Those who died in the disaster were those who drowned after being carried away by the flood currents that also carried logs and rocks from a lake in the mountain.
The emergency response lasted until end October 2010, with priorities to search and evacuate victims, town cleaning up, house and school reconstruction.
Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said the government was studying the possibility of relocating the flood victims.
"The government will find the best and most secure place for them," the minister said recently.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited flash flood-devastated Wasior to meet the victims and he ordered the setting up a trauma center and temporary shelters for them.
While the Indonesian people were still grieving about the devastation and fatalities caused by the flash flood in Wasior, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Mentawai Island District, West Sumatra Province, on October 25, 2010.
The earthquake and tsunami killed at least 408 people, caused 303 others to go missing, injured 270 badly and 142 lightly .
The disaster devastated 517 buildings and caused minor damage to 204 buildings. Around 23,000 people have been left homeless and forced to stay in refugee camps.
Ade Edwar of a local mitigation agency said the powerful earthquake and tsunami devastated 517 buildings and caused minor damage to 204 buildings, including four elementary school buildings, one junior high school building, four churches, 426 houses, and 10 bridges, while more than 200 houses suffered minor damage.
Around 22 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 5 to 6.2 on the Richter scale, had jolted the district up to Saturday (Oct 30).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was forced to leave the ASEAN Summit in Hanoi to visit Mentawai last Thursday (Oct 28). He asked the West Sumatra governor and Mentawai district head to coordinate efforts at relocating the tsunami victims.
Just one day after the Mentawai earthquake and tsunami, Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia`s most active volcano has started to erupted on October 26, 2010.
A total of 32 people, including Mbak Maridjan, "the spiritual caretaker" of the volcano, were killed, and tens of others were injured.
Mount Merapi erupted again several times early Saturday morning (Oct 30) causing residents living closest to the volcano to abandon their villages or settlements in panic.
Around 40,000 people have so far been evacuated to safer places following the eruption of Mt Merapi which is located in the border of Central Java and Yogyakarta and has erupted regularly since 1548.
Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world because it is located on the Pacific Ocean`s "ring of fire" of volcanoes and earthquakes.
One of the worst disasters hitting Indonesia was a 8.9 earthquake and a subsequent deadly tsunami which devastated Aceh Province (northern Sumatra) and Nias Island (North Sumatra Province) on December 26, 2004.
The gigantic tsunami killed at least 200,000 people and left around one million people homeless in Aceh and on Nias alone. The impacts of the tsunami had also affected badly other countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India.
In 2006, at least two major earthquakes rocked Java Island. In May 2006, Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas were shaken by 6.3 earthquake which killed over 5,700 people and injured at least 38,000 others. In July, a 6.8-earthquake and a subsequent tsunami affected southern coast of West Java and killed more than 650 people, while at least 65 others missing.
Another major earthquake was recorded on September 30, 2009, with a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale which devastated Padang city and several other towns in the provincial capital of West Sumatra, killing at least 1,117 people.
A total of 1,214 people were suffering from serious injuries, and 1,688 others were lightly injured. However, unofficial estimates put the number of victims at thousands, as many were still buried under the ruins of the collapsed buildings.The earthquake also destroyed 101,653 houses, and caused damage to 97,995 others in West Sumatera.
In 1883, Krakatoa, a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra, exploded and killed around 40,000 people.
The explosion is still considered to be the loudest sound ever heard in modern history, with reports of it being heard nearly 3,000 miles from its point of origin. The shock wave from the explosion was recorded on barographs around the globe.
And the lists of possible disasters might add as currently besides Mt Merapi, some other volcanoes especially Mt Anak Krakatau on the Sunda Strait and Mt Dempo in Pagaralam district, South Sumatera, are also showing increaded activity.(*)
Nurbaiti Hamdan The Star 30 Oct 10;
SHAH ALAM: Wildlife smuggler Anson Wong had been cruel to the animals he intended to export, the High Court heard.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar told the court that 95 boa constrictors were all forcibly stuffed inside a bag.
This, he added, contradicted a judgment by a Sessions Court judge that the animals were “safe and healthy.”
“The animals were indeed abused. This shows an inhumane act by the offender. We have to be loving towards animals,” Mohd Dusuki said in his submission at the hearing of an appeal for a heavier sentence against Wong here yesterday.
The appeal was filed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Sept 8 following the disappointment expressed by various conservation groups with the sentence. They said Malaysia should show its earnestness in tackling wildlife trafficking.
Wong, 52, whose full name is Wong Keng Liang, was caught at the KL International Airport on Aug 26 trying to smuggle the boa constrictors to Jakarta.
He was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM190,000 on Sept 6 by the Sepang Sessions Court for smuggling the snakes without a permit.
Mohd Dusuki contended that the sentence delivered by the Sessions Court judge did not reflect public interest and therefore the judge had erred in his judgment.
Wong’s defence counsel Datuk Shafee Abdullah, in his reply, said his client, who had imported the boa constrictors from Hungary did not abuse the reptiles.
“The only thing he did not do was apply for a permit to export them. He is an animal trader.
“It happens that it is in fashion now to have a boa constrictor in the house. He did not deplete Malaysia or the world of endangered animals,” he said.
He added that the maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and RM1mil fine should only be given to offenders in extreme cases such as those who ate brains of live monkeys or killed tigers for their body parts.
Justice Mohtarudin Baki fixed Nov 4 for decision.
Snakes also have rights, court told
Rita Jong The New Straits Times 30 Oct 10;
SHAH ALAM: Stuffing 95 boa constrictors into a suitcase which resulted in them having breathing difficulties was an inhumane way to treat the snakes, the High Court heard yesterday.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said the snakes, too, had their rights.
He was submitting at the appeal hearing of businessman Anson Wong Keng Liang who was sentenced to six months' jail and fined RM190,000 for illegally exporting the boa constrictors.
Wong was sentenced by the Sepang Sessions Court on Sept 6 after he pleaded guilty to exporting the endangered species without a permit at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang at 8.50pm on Aug 26.
The prosecution subsequently filed an appeal for a heavier sentence following an outcry from non-governmental organisations and the public.
Wong, 52, an international wildlife trader, was in KLIA on transit from Penang to Jakarta when the snakes were discovered in his suitcase.
Yesterday, Dusuki submitted that the lower court had failed to address the issue of public interest and the sentence was inadequate.
"Although it only involved exporting of endangered species, public interest demands that such a case be dealt with severely.
"The lower court judge took a wrong approach in sentencing. The appellant pleading guilty does not qualify him to an automatic 'discount'."
He said that animals should be treated with love and care. Therefore, the sentence must reflect public outcry.
Judge Datuk Mokhtarudin Baki then asked Dusuki as to how Wong had managed to obtain a licence to trade wildlife from the Wildlife Department in the first place, to which Dusuki replied he could not comment on that.
Wong's lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, however, argued that the charge against his client was technical in nature and he did not abuse the animals.
"It is trite law that the maximum sentence must be reserved for the most heinous crime such as eating the brains of a live monkey, or gunning down a tiger for the sake of getting its penis for so-called medicinal benefits.
"In this case, my client merely did not obtain a licence to export the animals."
He said Wong had imported the boa constrictors legally from Hungary and they were not from Malaysia. Hence, there was no issue of him depleting a Malaysian species.
"He was not making sushis out of the snakes, or cooking them in a pot. He was merely a pet trader," Shafee said, adding that Wong was just an animal trader.
"It so happens that people seem to think it is fashionable to have snakes, or lizards as pets."
He said Wong had paid enough for his offence as his farm in Penang had been closed down by the Wildlife Department as a result of this case.
Mokhtarudin then fixed Nov 4 for decision.
Under the International Trade of Endangered Species Act 2008, Wong is liable to a maximum fine of RM100,000 for each animal, but the total fine should not exceed RM1 million or up to seven years' jail, or both.
In 1998, Wong was arrested in Mexico City and was extradited to the United States three years later where he was sentenced to 71 months' jail.
He had pleaded guilty to 40 counts of smuggling, conspiracy, money laundering and violations of US wildlife protection law.
It was dubbed as one of the largest cases of illegal trade in wildlife ever prosecuted in the US.
Appeal for heavier sentence put off to Oct 29
Ong Han Sean The Star 9 Oct 10;
SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has postponed to Oct 29 an application for a heavier sentence against convicted wildlife trafficker Anson Wong.
Justice Mohtarudin Baki set the new date after Wong’s new counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah requested for the postponement yesterday.
Muhammad Shafee said he had just received a copy of the appeal records in the morning and needed more time to study them.
“They are expecting me to argue it today. This is completely unjustified,” Muhammad Shafee told reporters outside the court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar objected to the request for postponement, saying the case was of public interest. He said he had also received the records on Wednesday.
Wong, 52, whose full name is Wong Keng Liang, was arrested at the KLIA on Aug 26 trying to smuggle 95 boa constrictors to Jakarta.
Wong, who is from Penang, was sentenced to six month’s jail and fined RM190,000 on Sept 6 by the Sepang Sessions Court for smuggling the endangered snakes without a permit.
On Sept 8, the Attorney-General’s Chambers filed an appeal, asking for a heavier sentence.
Engaging businesses instead of being confrontational could help activists' cause
Jessica Cheam Straits Times 31 Oct 10;
Indonesia's forests make global headlines for all sorts of reasons. The recent forest fires in Sumatra which brought haze and air pollution to Singapore and Malaysia have again put the spotlight on the world's third-largest tropical rainforest - and the companies that own the land that has been burning.
A coalition of environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs), called Eyes on the Forest, has identified the hot spots as pulpwood concessions, palm oil plantations, wasteland and forest.
The group - which comprises WWF Indonesia, Forest Rescue Network Riau and Friends of the Earth Indonesia - has even identified companies such as Indonesian giant Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) and Singapore-based Asia-Pacific Resources International as land owners of the hot spots.
Many would have forgotten that just two weeks ago, a different story dominated the headlines.
APP had surprised the community by announcing that it would set aside a large forest in Sumatra - about a quarter the size of Singapore - as a so-called 'carbon sink' dedicated to absorbing planet- warming carbon dioxide.
This forest in Riau had originally been earmarked as a plantation site, but APP was now leaving it alone to generate carbon credits. It pledged that the bulk of money received would go back to the local community.
NGOs were sceptical. Greenpeace spokesman Bustar Maitar said the project was welcomed, but expressed concern that, apart from setting aside this area, peat land was still being cleared in APP's concessions in other areas.
Two weeks later, fires were devouring forests across 200 hot spots, mostly in Riau province. If anything, the concerns from Greenpeace now seem to be vindicated.
The growing tension between businesses and activists is as palpable as the haze at PSI 100. On the one hand, NGOs are understandably frustrated by the lack of progress on what they view as a matter of the utmost importance: reversing the pace of deforestation in Indonesia - whose forests serve as a crucial lung for the planet.
On the other hand, businesses feel victimised, claiming it is virtually impossible to police the vast tracts of forests on their land concessions.
There is no way to control the smallholders who start the fires, or to control the direction in which the fire spreads, they say.
Put both groups together in one place and sparks are guaranteed to fly. I was at a local dialogue last week attended by leading local environmentalists, academics and private-sector leaders.
The exchange between one spokesman from a listed agribusiness firm and a left-wing environmentalist got heated within minutes, with the latter demanding that, instead of dishing out quarterly dividends from 'big profits' to shareholders, these companies should do the right thing by investing in resources to ensure their land does not burn. The counter was that the issue was not a straightforward one, and that sometimes businesses have no control over who sets fire to their land.
Then another environmentalist said: 'It's your land, so take responsibility and sort it out.'
Observing the exchange, I wondered if there was a middle ground to be struck between this perpetual war of values and ideologies between businesses and NGOs.
There are generally two types of activism NGOs engage in: The first is the 'stick' method of boycotting, putting pressure and lobbying against a company seen to be doing the 'wrong' thing but which has enough financial and political clout to change things.
Aggressive lobbying by Greenpeace against the Sinar Mas Group and Golden Agri-Resources, for example, has seen the firm lose major suppliers such as Nestle and Unilever. APP has similarly lost clients like retail giant Carrefour. It is effective - but to only a certain extent.
The other method is the 'carrot' approach which favours engagement with businesses. US- based NGO Conservation International (CI) is a firm believer in engaging rather than distancing. As its Singapore managing director Landy Eng puts it: 'We believe that engagement is an important part of the solution. Rather than ignore businesses and keep them on the outside, we should welcome their willingness to lead.'
CI has established a Climate Action Working Group, for example, that focuses solely on the haze issue. It is led by two businesses - Indonesian energy giant Medco Group and Singapore-listed agri-giant Wilmar International.
The working group holds regular meetings with stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and have identified both the drivers of and solutions to the haze problem.
It is now looking to test some ideas in certain areas to raise land productivity such as providing education to farmers on how to fertilise land without slashing and burning, and the opportunities of growing higher-yield crops, said Mr Eng.
Carbon Conservation (CC), headquartered in Singapore, is another believer in engagement. It persuades land owners to set aside forests to generate carbon credits and acts as the go-between for the land owners and buyers of the credit such as banks and funds.
It is also the company that helped APP with its 15,600ha carbon sink project in Riau, and will be leading the project's development and evaluation.
CC chief executive Dorjee Sun conceded that the firm had reservations initially about the project, but it decided it should 'walk with the big businesses that want to make a change to help educate them and guide them along the process'.
This especially struck a chord with me.
However tempting it is to throw bricks at seemingly irresponsible companies, such moves are counter-productive to solving the issues at hand.
At best, they will result in superficial gestures of change, and at worst, the companies could clam up, dig in their heels and get on with business as usual.
Seeing as of the world's 100 largest economies, 42 are companies, there is an imperative to engage businesses to be socially responsible, rather than to treat them as capitalist monsters.
APP's move to set aside part of its plantation may be regarded by some quarters as a public relations exercise in 'greenwashing', but it is nevertheless a good first step towards a possible solution: paying people to preserve forests.
A demonstration project like that could pave the way for more, and with firms like CC developing it, transparency issues can be ironed out and improved.
American writer H. Jackson Brown once wrote that 'in the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength but by perseverance'. Activists may find that a persevering spirit of engagement could be the best way to effect change in our modern world.
Manila Bulletin 30 Oct 10;
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Sea corals found in some dive spots in Sarangani province have started to show signs of degradation due to a suspected phenomenon called “coral bleaching.”
American scuba diver John Heitz said about 20 percent of sea corals found off Barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani showed signs of color fading because of coral bleaching.
The area is considered as a world- class dive spot in this part of the country and is being visited by local and foreign divers all throughout the year.
Heitz said local divers have likewise noticed the fading color of the corals last month during a regular diving activity in the area.g
Coral bleaching is supposedly caused by global warming or the steady rise in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.
Barangay Kamanga in Maasim is considered a world-class dive spot, where one need not go far from the shore to experience the dazzling beauty beneath the waves.
Heitz said he recorded temperatures of 86 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit in one of his recent diving expeditions he conducted in the area. “That’s pretty warm as I usually get a temperature of 84 degrees (Fahrenheit),” he added.
He said some of those affected by the bleaching are the acropora table corals, soft corals, and pink hydroids. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
But biologists warn that international inaction is leaving oceans dangerously exposed to overfishing
Jonathan Owen The Independent 31 Oct 10;
At midnight tonight, the world's largest fully protected marine reserve will come into force in the British territorial waters of the Chagos Archipelago, in the Indian Ocean.
But this new sanctuary, designated as a "no-take" zone where commercial fishing will be banned, serves to underline how catastrophically the international community has fallen short of a goal set almost a decade ago to protect marine life.
In 2002, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development made a commitment to protect 10 per cent of the world's oceans by 2012. Today, with only 15 months to go, it is estimated that just 1.17 per cent of the world's oceans are under some form of protection, and a mere 0.08 per cent classified as "no-take" zones.
Yesterday, government representatives at a UN conference on biodiversity held in Nagoya, Japan, put the 2012 deadline back to 2020. Marine experts warned that it is scandalous that the original deadline will not be met, and said the 10 per cent target falls far short of what is needed. A third of ocean waters need protection to give species a fighting chance of survival, they said.
The shortfall between target and achievement was described as "massive" by Dr Heather Koldewey, manager of the Zoological Society of London's international marine and freshwater conservation programme. The failure to get anywhere near the original goal would result in "a massive loss of marine resources and, with that, an associated loss of people's livelihoods", she warned. "In terms of maintaining marine environments in some kind of operational form, science believes that actual protection should be in the region of 30 to 40 per cent," she added.
More no-take marine reserves are vital to maintain sufficient life in our oceans, according to the marine biologist Professor Charles Sheppard, from the University of Warwick. "Governments need to stand up to the fishing industry lobby before it is too late. We cannot afford to have any more delay by governments in honouring their commitments to protect areas of ocean." Failure to do this would result in "degradation of the habitat, followed swiftly by degradation of the people who would have been supported by the habitat", he added.
Alistair Gammell, director of the Pew Environment Group's Chagos campaign, said: "It is scandalous that governments are nowhere near the targets agreed to in 2002. The consequence of that failure is that fish and other species are declining in nearly every place you look."
The Chagos reserve covers an area of 544,000 square kilometres – twice the size of Britain. Its waters are home to the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, as well as green sea turtles, dolphins and one of the world's largest coral reefs – a habitat for more than 1,200 species of coral and fish.
Marine life in the waters of the Chagos Archipelago has been hit hard by overfishing. The Zoological Society of London estimates that, over the past five years, around 60,000 sharks, an equivalent number of rays and many other species have been caught there as "by-catch" – as an accidental adjunct to commercial fishing for tuna, for example.
In an attempt to prevent the reserve becoming little more than a park on paper, a fisheries patrol vessel will police the waters to ensure the fishing ban is not breached.
In a statement last night a Foreign Office spokesman said: "The Government believes that a Marine Protected Area (MPA) is the right way ahead for furthering the environmental protection of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
"As the world's largest MPA, the UK's example is encouraging others to do the same in other important and vulnerable areas."
HSC tracking project – trial
from isn't it a wonder, how life came to be
Weevils are not Evil!
from Macro Photography in Singapore
Long-tailed Parakeets eating tropical mistletoe fruits
from Bird Ecology Study Group
My Green Space: A flying 'tree doctor', rare tree rescue and more!
from Celebrating Singapore's BioDiversity!
Oil spill exercise near Cyrene
from wild shores of singapore
Banking on innovation for green shoots
from BBC NEWS blog by Richard Black
Wayne Chan Channel NewsAsia 29 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE: The oil spill in May from two ships that collided off Singapore's East Coast cost S$7 million to clean up.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said the companies that own the ships will have to bear this cost.
Meanwhile the MPA led a multi-agency oil spill exercise on Friday to ensure Singapore's readiness in future.
Code-named JOSE 2010, it played out a scenario where an oil tanker spills oil that can fill more than two Olympic-sized pools. About half that amount was spilled in the May collision.
An aircraft was also on hand to show how it would spray chemicals for a clean-up.
The exercise also rehearsed a rescue of ship crew members trapped in a fire.
Over 150 personnel from 14 government agencies took part in the drill.
The exercise took place along Sinki Fairway, about eight kilometres southwest of Sentosa.
MPA's group director, Captain M Segar, said it is critical for Singapore to maintain operational readiness because of its strategic location and connection.
A person in charge of a vessel that causes an oil spill can be fined up to S$1 million or jailed for up to two years or both.
The MPA also reported a 20% drop in the number of ships caught for dumping waste from January to July this year, as compared with the same period last year.
The exercise was also observed by over 60 international participants of the Singapore International Bunkering Conference.
- CNA/ir
Oil spill exercise to 'ensure Singapore's readiness'
Wayne Chan Today Online 30 Oct 10;
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) led a multi-agency oil spill exercise on Friday to ensure Singapore's readiness in future, following a major clean-up of a spill off the East Coast in May as a result of a collision between two vessels.
The cost of the clean-up, which amounted to $7 million, will be borne by the owners of both vessels, the MPA said.
In Friday's exercise, code-named JOSE 2010, the scenario was that of an oil tanker which spilt oil to the extent of more than two Olympic-sized pools.
About half that amount was spilled in the May collision.
An aircraft was on hand to show how it would spray chemicals for a clean-up. The exercise also rehearsed a rescue of ship crew members trapped in a fire.
Over 150 personnel from 14 government agencies participated in the exercise along Sinki Fairway, about eight kilometres south-west of Sentosa.
Joint oil spill exercise conducted in Singapore
AsiaOne 29 Oct 10;
A multi-agency joint oil spill exercise was conducted on Friday to test and demonstrate Singapore's readiness to respond to oil spills at sea.
Code-named JOSE 2010, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) led the exercise at PSA Vista.
The aim of the exercise was to familiarise responding agencies on oil spill contingency plans.
Over 150 personnel from various agencies participated in the table-top and seaward exercise along Sinki Fairway, about 8 km south-west of Sentosa Island.
The scenario that was used in the exercise involved a collision between an oil tanker with 62,000 tons of crude oil and a cargo vessel.
The impact of the collision also caused a fire and some crew members were reported to be trapped.
MPA deployed aircraft fitted with aerial dispersant spraying system to combat the spill.
The spill response teams also demonstrated the deployment of equipment such as oil containment booms around the tanker to prevent further escape of oil.
The exercise was observed by over 60 international participants of the Singapore International Bunkering Conference.
MPA Leads Multi-Agency Team for Joint Oil Spill Exercise
SG Press Centre 29 Oct 10;
In an effort to test and demonstrate Singapore's readiness to respond effectively to oil spills at sea, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) led a multi-agency joint oil spill exercise (code-named JOSE 2010) on Friday, 29 October 2010.
Comprising a table-top exercise at Port Operations Control Centre 2 at PSA Vista and a demonstration on local oil spill response capability, the aim of JOSE 2010 was to familiarize responding agencies on the Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) for combating major oil spills at sea. Over 150 personnel from various agencies participated in the table top exercise and seaward exercise, located along Sinki Fairway, about 8 km south west of Sentosa Island. See Annex A.
"Singapore being the world's major hub port lies in a strategic location. It is well-connected to 600 ports in 120 countries. Hence, it is critical for Singapore to remain vigilant and maintain operational readiness at all times. This year's exercise demonstrates the close co-ordination of both aircraft and vessel based dispersant spraying systems in the busy waterways of the Port of Singapore. This further ensures an effective and swift response to oil spill incidents within Singapore port limit,” says Capt Segar, MPA’s Group Director (Hub Port).
JOSE 2010 involved a scenario whereby an oil tanker, loaded with 62,000 tonnes of Arabian Heavy crude oil was hit by a cargo vessel at Sinki Fairway. The vessel suffered damage to two cargo tanks and some 4,500 tonnes of oil was spilled. The impact of the collision also caused a fire near the Engine Control Room (ECR) and some crew members were reported to be trapped in the ECR. The cargo vessel suffered minor damage and proceeded to anchor at the Western Anchorage.
As a large quantity of oil was spilled and was spreading quickly, MPA deployed the aircraft fitted with aerial dispersant spraying system to combat the spill. The spill response teams also demonstrated the deployment of equipment such as oil containment booms around the stricken tanker to prevent further escape of the oil, and recovery of oil by specialized skimmers.
JOSE 2010 was yet another successful exercise which saw close cooperation among MPA, government agencies and industry partners. Refer to Annex B for the list of exercise participants. The exercise was observed by over 60 international participants of the Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2010), held from 27-29th October
ANNEX A: Exercise area
ANNEX B: EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS
EOC’s exercise participants are:
a. MPA
b. National Environment Agency
c. MINDEF (MJOC)/SAF
d. Singapore Police Force/PCG
e. Singapore Civil Defence
f. PUB, the National Water Agency
g. National Parks Board
h. Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)
i. Housing and Development Board
j. Singapore Land Authority
k. Sentosa Development Corporation
l. JTC Corporation
m. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
n. Building and Construction Authority
In attendance:
o. Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd (oil terminal)
p. Sinanju Tankers Pte Ltd
q. P&I Representatives
r. Oil Spills Contractors
Observers:
s. MOT
t. MHA
u. MICA
v. Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore
w. Tankstore Singapore
x. Oiltanking Singapore Pte Ltd
Related links
Channel NewsAsia 30 Oct 10;
SINGAPORE: A newly endorsed self-assessment tool for cities to measure biodiversity is Singapore's contribution to the biodiversity conservation movement, said Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan.
The Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity was developed by various experts in Singapore.
It was formally endorsed on Friday as a biodiversity measurement tool for cities, at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya.
Mr Mah, who is in Nagoya for the conference, said the index would help cities and local authorities measure the progress of their biodiversity conservation effort over time.
"Cities and governments around the world are well aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation and its impact on social and economic development," he said.
"Singapore is a good case study in illustrating how economic development and greenery and biodiversity conservation can be mutually reinforcing."
The Singapore Index uses a "report card" scoring system where cities can carry out their own assessment, allocate points for a diversity of 23 indicators, before coming up with an overall quantitative score.
The information can help cities make better decisions on how to prioritise their biodiversity conservation initiatives.
It would also evaluate cities' progress in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss.
Mr Mah said the index endorsement was an excellent closure to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.
-CNA/wk
Singapore Index formally endorsed as a biodiversity measurement tool for cities
AsiaOne 30 Oct 10;
The first self-assessment tool for cities to measure biodiversity - the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity - has formally been endorsed at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP10) in Nagoya yesterday.
Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, who is in Nagoya for the conference, noted that this is an excellent closure to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.
He commented that the Singapore Index will be Singapore's contribution to the biodiversity conservation movement.
It will assist cities and local authorities to measure the progress of their biodiversity conservation efforts over time.
He said, "Cities and governments around the world are well aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation and its impact on social and economic development. Singapore is a good case study in illustrating how economic development and greenery and biodiversity conservation can be mutually reinforcing.
"We are a small city-state with limited land resources, but rich in flora and fauna. We are thankful for the support of the CBD Secretariat and the various experts in developing the Singapore Index. It is our contribution towards ongoing global efforts on biodiversity conservation."
The Singapore Index also has the potential to be used to measure the economic benefits of biodiversity.
For example, ecosystem services such as trees converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and tree canopies reducing ambient temperatures are not assigned any monetary value.
The Singapore Index collates quantitative data on such services and can facilitate economic valuation of biodiversity.
This will help cities better consider policies that impact biodiversity conservation.
The Singapore Index has been test bedded by over 30 cities around the world.
It uses a 'report card' scoring system where cities can carry out their own assessment, allocate points for a diversity of 23 indicators, and come up with an overall quantitative score.
The information can help cities make decisions on how to prioritise their biodiversity conservation initiatives and to evaluate their progress in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss.
Singapore has also offered to host a Cities and Biodiversity Forum for Mayors during the next World Cities Summit to be held in mid-2012, as a preparatory meeting to CBD COP-11 in India in October 2012.
At this Mayors Forum, cities can report on their progress in biodiversity conservation and the application of the Singapore Index.
The deliberations of the forum can then be reported to CBD COP-11.
New training programme on biodiversity conservation
To enhance understanding of the Singapore Index, the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE), will be organising a new training and capacity building programme on urban biodiversity conservation in May 2011.
Targeted at officials from cities and local authorities, participants will also learn about Singapore's experience and efforts in urban biodiversity conservation.
Singapore Index formally endorsed as a biodiversity measurement tool for cities
NParks media release 30 Oct 10;
1. The first self-assessment tool for cities to measure biodiversity - the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity - was formally endorsed at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP10) in Nagoya yesterday.
2. Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, who is in Nagoya for the conference, noted that this is an excellent closure to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. He commented that the Singapore Index will be our contribution to the biodiversity conservation movement. It will assist cities and local authorities to measure the progress of their biodiversity conservation efforts over time.
3. He said, "Cities and governments around the world are well aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation and its impact on social and economic development. Singapore is a good case study in illustrating how economic development and greenery and biodiversity conservation can be mutually reinforcing. We are a small city-state with limited land resources, but rich in flora and fauna. We are thankful for the support of the CBD Secretariat and the various experts in developing the Singapore Index. It is our contribution towards ongoing global efforts on biodiversity conservation."
4. The Singapore Index also has the potential to be used to measure the economic benefits of biodiversity. For example, ecosystem services such as trees converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and tree canopies reducing ambient temperatures are not assigned any monetary value. The Singapore Index collates quantitative data on such services and can facilitate economic valuation of biodiversity. This will help cities better consider policies that impact biodiversity conservation.
5. The Singapore Index has been test bedded by over 30 cities around the world. It uses a 'report card' scoring system where cities can carry out their own assessment, allocate points for a diversity of 23 indicators, and come up with an overall quantitative score. The information can help cities make decisions on how to prioritise their biodiversity conservation initiatives and to evaluate their progress in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss.
6. Singapore has also offered to host a Cities and Biodiversity Forum for Mayors during the next World Cities Summit to be held in mid-2012, as a preparatory meeting to CBD COP-11 in India in October 2012. At this Mayors Forum, cities can report on their progress in biodiversity conservation and the application of the Singapore Index. The deliberations of the forum can then be reported to CBD COP-11.
New Training Programme on biodiversity conservation
7. To enhance understanding of the Singapore Index, the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE), will be organising a new training and capacity building programme on urban biodiversity conservation in May 2011. Targeted at officials from cities and local authorities, participants will also learn about Singapore's experience and efforts in urban biodiversity conservation.
Singapore's celebrations during International Year of Biodiversity 2010
8. To support the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB2010) , the Singapore National Parks Board (NParks) has organised a series of events to raise public awareness of the rich biodiversity in Singapore. They include documentary screenings, a photo exhibition along Orchard Road, one of Singapore's busiest shopping streets, and tree planting activities. NParks also announced a series of conservation initiatives such as the establishment of the Sembcorp Forest of Giants and Singing Forest at Southern Ridges. (Please see Annex A for more information)
9. Year 2011 has been declared by United Nations as the International Year of Forests. NParks will be implementing a series of activities to raise awareness about the importance of trees and forests through guided tours, workshops and other programmes.
New book features over 1,600 Pacific reef critters; some are new species
Victoria Vaughan Straits Times 30 Oct 10;
CRITTER hunters have scoured the coral reefs of the Pacific to find and photograph species, many of them new, for an identification book launched in Singapore this week.
Dr Tan (above, left) with a crab specimen, and Mr Deloach pointing to a photo of the same species in his new book. PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR
Americans Ned Deloach and Paul Humann have spent more than 20 years recording life in the oceans for their identification books, which are renowned among the diving community as a spotters' guide to what's beneath the waves.
Their latest 500-page book - Reef Creature Identification: Tropical Pacific - documents more than 1,600 animals from Thailand to Tahiti and took five years to compile.
Although about a third of the critters - from shrimps to crabs - are thought to be new species, the findings are merely 'scratching the surface' of what has yet to be discovered, said Mr Deloach, who was in Singapore for the book launch.
His sentiments were backed up by the recent Census of Marine Life, a 10-year global study that discovered more than 6,000 new species.
Seeking out the tiny creatures - many of them camouflaged to avoid becoming prey and some only half a centimetre long - was a lesson in patience for the authors.
Mr Deloach, 66, and his wife Anna, 56, along with Indonesian guides, would dive from 6pm to 11pm, five days a week for five months of the year. For each dive, they would spend nearly two hours underwater in one spot hoping to catch sight of the rare creatures.
Speaking at the book launch, Mr Deloach singled out a shell mimic shrimp as his favourite find. It was spotted in the Lembeh Strait near Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The Texan said: 'I was running out of air, but I saw one of the dive guides, Sarindah, waving his torch wildly... His eyes were as big as saucers in his mask and he was pointing at this tiny shell on the reef.
'I thought it was stupid but just to humour him, I took four shots.'
When they got to the surface, the photos revealed that it was more than just a shell. Only two such shrimps have been seen before and both had scientific papers written about them.
'This is the last great natural history on Earth. We are the first generation to be able to go down there - the tradition is to dredge to get species up - and see it with our eyes,' said Mr Deloach.
Although 75 per cent of the photos were taken by the authors, local underwater photographers Mathieu Meur, Indra Swari Wonowidjojo and Ivan Choong, as well as Wild Singapore blogger Ria Tan, contributed to the book.
'The underwater realm is largely undescribed. Taking images of new species or simply documenting the variety of species present in a specific location is a rewarding activity, as it helps further our knowledge of the underwater world,' said Mr Meur, 35, who works at engineering company Meinhardt Group.
The project bridged the gap between the artistic and the scientific, as many of the species in the photos were identified with the help of scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
'Taxonomists don't work from photos but dead specimens. We wanted this book to bridge the science and the diving, as these guys don't get much chance to be out in the field,' said Mr Deloach, who e-mailed photos to 44 scientists around the world to help with the identification.
Live specimens, however, are still needed for the recording of new species.
NUS crab taxonomists Tan Swee Hee and Jose Christopher Mendoza were able to identify many of the elbow crabs in the photos for the book.
For Dr Tan, it was the first time he got to see photos of the creatures in living colour.
'The photos give us a sense of the colouration and allows us to give a more comprehensive description, although it may vary within the same species,' he said.
Echoing his sentiments, Mr Mendoza said: 'It's really amazing to see these things for the first time in living colour in their natural habitat. It's very informative for scientists specially, as we have seen them only in specimen bottles.'
Related links
Launch of Reef Creature Identification Tropical Pacific on wild shores of singapore.
Chisa Fujioka and David Fogarty Reuters AlertNet 29 Oct 10;
* New targets to conserve fisheries, reefs and forests
* Nagoya Protocol sets rules on sharing genetic resources
* Breakthrough boosts mood for Cancun climate talks
NAGOYA, Japan, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Nearly 200 nations agreed on Saturday to a sweeping plan to stem the loss of species by setting new 2020 targets to ensure greater protection of nature and enshrine the benefits it gives mankind.
Environment ministers from around the globe also agreed on rules for sharing the benefits from genetic resources from nature between governments and companies, a trade and intellectual property issue that could be worth billions of dollars in new funds for developing nations.
Agreement on parts of the deal has taken years of at times heated negotiations, and talks in the Japanese city of Nagoya were deadlocked until the early hours of Saturday after two weeks of talks.
Delegates agreed goals to protect oceans, forests and rivers as the world faces the worst extinction rate since the dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago.
They also agreed to take steps to put a price on the value of benefits such as clean water from watersheds and coastal protection by mangroves by including such "natural capital" into national accounts.
Services provided by nature to economies were worth trillions of dollars a year, the head of the U.N. Environment Programme, Achim Steiner, said in a statement, adding businesses from banks to miners were key in halting rapid loss of ecosystems.
"These goals recognize and value the irreplaceable benefits that nature provides to people in the form of food, fuel, fiber, fodder and freshwater that everyone depends on," Andrew Deutz, director of international government relations for U.S.-based The Nature Conservancy, told Reuters.
Delegates and greens said the outcome would send a positive signal to troubled U.N. climate negotiations that have been become bogged down by a split between rich and poor nations over how to share the burden in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
U.N. climate talks resume in Mexico in a month.
"TORTUOUS NEGOTIATIONS"
"We're delighted there's been a successful outcome to these long and tortuous negotiations and I think it shows that these multilateral negotiations can deliver a good result," said Peter Cochrane, head of Australia's delegation in Nagoya.
Delegates agreed to a 20-point strategic plan to protect fish stocks, fight the loss and degradation of natural habitats and to conserve larger land and marine areas.
They also set a broader 2020 "mission" to take urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity.
Nations agreed to protect 17 percent of land and inland waters and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2020. Currently, 13 percent of land and 1 percent of oceans are protected for conservation.
The third part of the deal, the Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources, has taken nearly 20 years to agree and sets rules governing how nations manage and share benefits derived from forests and seas to create new drugs, crops or cosmetics.
The protocol could unlock billions of dollars for developing countries, where much of the world's natural riches remain.
"The protocol is really, really a victory," Brazil's Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told reporters.
It will also mean changes for businesses.
"This isn't a boring protocol. It will regulate billions of dollars for the pharmaceutical industry," said Tove Ryding, policy adviser for biodiversity and climate change for Greenpeace.
Karl Falkenberg, head of the European Commission's environment department, said it would also fight poverty.
"We finally have something that is going to give great results for the environment, for the poor people," who will be able to earn money in exchange for access to genetic materials, he said after the talks ended.
Delegates and greens had feared the ill-feeling that pervaded climate negotiations after last December's acrimonious meeting in Copenhagen would derail the talks in Nagoya.
"There's been a mood of change. I think the failure of the Copenhagen meeting last year perhaps has meant a new realisation that we need to more flexible in negotiations," said Jane Smart, director of conservation policy for the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (Editing by Jon Boyle)
FACTBOX-World agrees how to share nature's riches
Reuters AlertNet 30 Oct 10;
Oct 30 (Reuters) - After some 20 years of talks, nearly 200 nations agreed on Saturday rules for sharing genetic resources, a step that could hand developing nations billions of dollars from drug, agri-resources and cosmetics firms.
The access and benefit-sharing pact aims to give nations much better control over resources, from trees to fungi and from fish to frogs, that can lead to cures for cancer or new crops more resistant to climate change.
Following are some details of the pact, called the Nagoya Protocol, which was a central focus of two weeks of U.N. talks in the Japanese city of Nagoya on saving nature. The talks ended on Saturday.
HISTORY
Fair sharing of genetic resources is a key goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity that went into force in 1993.
Voluntary measures were not adopted until 2002, and in 2006 a target was set: to agree on a legally binding treaty by 2010.
The issue is complex and controversial, and some pharmaceutical firms have said they fear it will be more expensive to develop new drugs and harder to get patents.
WHAT ARE GENETIC RESOURCES?
Under the Convention, genetic material refers to anything from plants, animals and microbes that can be inherited or passed on, while genetic resources means any genetic material of actual or potential value. Each nation has the sovereign right to own and manage its resources.
MAIN POINTS OF THE NEW PACT
-- Covers use of genetic material, such as research into and development of the genetic and/or biochemical composition of a genetic resource.
The new pact also defines the use of biotechnology, and the controversial area of derivatives, such as snake venom, tree sap and enzymes. Some countries feared this area would mean too much regulation of nature's resources, while developing nations saw it as a loophole that needed to be closed if, for example, a chemical derived from snake venom leads to a valuable new drug.
-- The final text sidesteps specific references to whether benefits from genetic resources will apply after the new protocol is ratified, or before the 1993 start of the Convention.
Some developing nations want to take into account benefits acquired historically, such as during colonial times or from new drugs derived from specimens collected years ago and now stored in university or museum vaults. Rich nations firmly opposed any treaty that would be retrospective.
-- It creates a global benefit-sharing mechanism for situations where benefits are derived "in transboundary situations or for which it is not possible to grant or obtain prior consent".
-- It says nations should take action to ensure the fair sharing of any benefits from genetic resources owned by indigenous groups.
-- It recognises the value of "traditional knowledge", so that local communities' knowledge of forests and their products will be rewarded.
-- It creates a clearing house to share data, and outlines the rules of compliance and dispute resolution as well as rules to monitor the use of genetic resources, such as the creation of designated check points.
National agencies, research institutions or other bodies could monitor use. (Writing by David Fogarty, editing by Tim Pearce)
FACTBOX-UN plan to protect animals, plants by 2020
Reuters AlertNet 29 Oct 10;
Oct 30 (Reuters) - A U.N. meeting agreed on Saturday new 2020 targets for combating the increasing extinction of animals and plants caused by threats such as pollution, climate change and forest clearance.
The United Nations says the world has failed to reach a goal, set in 2002, of a "significant reduction" in biological diversity losses by 2010. Some U.N. studies say the world is facing the worst losses since the dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago.
Negotiators at the end of two-weeks of talks in the Japanese city of Nagoya agreed a formal 20-point plan to protect biodiversity by 2020.
Following are details of the draft plan:
OVERALL "MISSION"
Nations agreed on a 2020 deadline to take urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity to ensure ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services.
20-POINT PLAN:
* RAISE AWARENESS OF BIODIVERSITY BY 2020 AT THE LATEST
1) Make people aware of biodiversity and what they can do
2) By 2020 at the latest, ensure that the values of biodiversity are integrated into national accounts and local development plans
3) Eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity
4) Ensure sustainable production and consumption
* CUT PRESSURES ON BIODIVERSITY BY 2020
5) The rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved or where feasible brought close to zero
6) Fish and invertebrate stocks are managed and harvested sustainably, with recovery plans in place for all depleted species
7) Manage agriculture, aquaculture and forestry sustainably
8) Cut pollution to levels that do not damage nature
9) Control or eradicate invasive alien species
10) By 2015, minimise pressures on coral reefs and other ecosystems hit by climate change and ocean acidification
* SAFEGUARD ECOSYSTEMS BY 2020
11) Conserve 17 percent of land areas and 10 percent of coastal and marine areas
12) Prevent extinction and decline of known threatened species and improve their conservation status
13) Genetic diversity of cultivated plants, farm animals and non-domesticated wild relatives is maintained.
* RAISE BENEFITS TO ALL FROM BIODIVERSITY BY 2020
14) Safeguard and restore ecosystems vital for health, livelihoods and well-being
15) Make ecosystems more resilient -- including by restoring at least 15 percent of degraded ecosystems. This will help store carbon dioxide in plants and slow desertification
16) Ensure fair "access and benefit sharing" of genetic resources.
* IMPROVE PLANNING BY 2020
17) By 2015, all countries have adopted a "national biodiversity strategy and action plan"
18) Promote ways to tap traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities relevant to protecting biodiversity
19) Improve and apply biodiversity knowledge, science and technologies
20) By 2020, financing should increase "substantially from current levels" to fully carry out the strategic plan. (Compiled by Alister Doyle in Oslo and David Fogarty in Nagoya; Editing by Alison Williams)
Biodiversity talks end with call for 'urgent' action
Richard Black BBC News 29 Oct 10;
The UN biodiversity meeting in Japan has agreed a 10-year plan aimed at preserving nature.
Targets for protecting areas of land and sea were weaker than conservation scientists wanted, as was the overall target for slowing biodiversity loss.
Most developing countries were pleased with measures aimed at ensuring they get a share in profits from products made from plants and other organisms.
Nations have two years to draw up plans for funding the plan.
"This agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society," said Jim Leape, director-general of WWF International.
"Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics, and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth."
The meeting settled on targets of protecting 17% of the world's land surface, and 10% of the oceans, by 2020.
These are regarded as too small by many conservation scientists, who point out that about 13% of the land is already protected - while the existing target for oceans is already 10%.
Many poorer countries say they do not have the resources to implement such targets.
"The forest and the other biological resources we have serve the general interests of the global environment," said Johansen Voker from Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency.
"So we expect assistance to be able to effectively conserve our environment for the common good of the world community."
Developed nations agreed to establish mechanisms for raising finance to help them - which could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars per year by 2020.
They are required to have a plan to raise such sums in place by 2012, when Brazil will host the second Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The sums might appear astronomical - particularly when you recall that governments are already committed to raising $100bn (£125bn) per year for climate change by 2020 - but French Ecology Minister Chantal Jouanno said it was not impossible.
"If you think that to solve the problem of biodiversity only public funds can be sufficient, it's just a dream, because the amounts necessary are so huge," she told BBC News.
"It needs to be private funds too - and not only voluntary private funds but... binding funds [from business].
"You are making profits from the use of biodiversity; so it's logical and it's legitimate that those profits return to biodiversity."
The trickiest issue - the agreement on sharing profits from the development of products drawing on genetic resources in developing countries, known as Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) - was resolved after developed nations, led by the EU, made some crucial concessions.
In particular, they agreed that the measures should cover anything made from this genetic material, technically known as "derivatives".
They had previouslty argued for a much narrower scope.
'More work needed'
Conservation groups warned that the agreement as it stands does not guarantee the erosion of species and ecosystems will be stopped.
"Participants may be leaving Nagoya, but they still need to be working to save life on this planet from Monday morning," said Jane Smart, head of the species programme at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
"We need to harness the energy of this meeting, where we've seen huge and significant commitments in terms of reinvigorated political will as well as real money from the likes of Japan, and in terms of pledges to increase protected areas from the likes of Guinea Bissau."
Japan looks set to emerge with credit, having steered the tough negotiations through its final hours.
"What the Japanese government really wants to do here is to get agreement so they can be proud of the Nagoya CBD," said Wakao Hanaoka, oceans campaigner with Greenpeace Japan.
"What is really needed, since the Japanese government has just started its role of chairing the CBC until 2012, is to keep doing what they have promised to international society."
This meant, he suggested, taking effective conservation in the marine environment - including backing cuts in fisheries for threatened but lucrative fish such as bluefin tuna.
Biodiversity talks: Ministers in Nagoya adopt new strategy
Chair of the UN biodiversity talks gavelled into effect a set of targets for 2020 to at least halve the loss of natural habitats
Jonathan Watts guardian.co.uk 29 Oct 10;
Environment ministers from almost 200 nations agreed late tonight to adopt a new United Nations strategy that aims to stem the worst loss of life on earth since the demise of the dinosaurs.
With a typhoon looming outside and cheering inside the Nagoya conference hall, the Japanese chair of the UN biodiversity talks gavelled into effect the Aichi Targets, set to at least halve the loss of natural habitats and expand nature reserves to 17% of the world's land area by 2020 up from less than 10% today.
Fish and other aquatic life should be provided with greater refuge, under the Aichi Targets — as the plan is named, after the region around Nagoya — which including a widening of marine protected zones to 10 per cent of the world's seas, an increase from barely 1 per cent today.
Frantic late-night negotiations also saw the UN's COP10 biodiversity conference adopt a new treaty, the Nagoya Protocol, to manage the world's genetic resources and share the multibillion-dollar benefits with developing nations and indigenous communities.
Despite concerns that targets are inadequately funded and not sufficiently ambitiousto reverse the decline of habitats and species, most organisers, delegates and NGOs expressed there was relief that negotiations had avoided the friction and fracture of last year's climate talks in Copenhagen. "This is a day to celebrate in terms of a new and innovative response to the alarming loss of biodiversity and ecosystems," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme.
"It is an important moment for the United Nations and the ability of countries to put aside the narrow differences that all too often divide in favour of the broader, shared issues that can united peoples and nations."
Under the Aichi Targets, all signatories to the UN Convention on Biodiversity,are supposed to draw up national biodiversity plans. Together, their voluntary actions are supposed to halt over-fishing, control invasive species, reduce pollution minimise the pressure on coral reefs from ocean acidification, and halt the loss of genetic diversity in agricultural ecosystems.
Perhaps the most remarkable breakthrough, was the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol which lays down ground rules on how nations should cooperate in accessing and sharing the benefits of genetic resources — including plants, fungi and pathogens.
Governments have been discussing this subject for 18 years, but it has been held up until now because it ran across issues of trade, health, traditional medicine and science and pitted multinational pharmaceutical companies against indigenous communities.
Tthe Nagoya Protocol, will see governments considering ways to provide recompense for genetic material and traditional medical knowledge collected in the past that is now being used, patented and sold. This is likely to be done through a special fund for developing nations that could be used for conservation or scientific research centres.
The protocol will come into effect in 2020 and needs to be ratified by signatory nations. Several delegates, including those from Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela, expressed unease that the protocol inadequately safeguarded the benefits due to developing nations, but said they would not stand in the way of a consensus.
Another area of frustration was financing. The conference did not specify how much money would be provided to achieve its goals to save habitats and species. Instead governments agreed to draw up a funding plan, with sums, baselines and other details, by 2012.
The host country, Japan, has pledged $2bn this week for biodiversity while the UK and France have earmarked smaller sums for related projects. However, most developed countries were unable to pledge major funding. Conservation groups said it was vital that significant extra finance was put in place to halt the demise of nature.
"We were disappointed that most rich countries came to Nagoya with empty pockets — unable or unwilling to provide the resources that will make it possible for the developing world to implement their ambitious targets." said Jim Leape, director general of WWF International.
But Leape welcomed the overall deal. "This agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society. Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth."
Other groups emphasized that implementation was the key. "Participants may be leaving Nagoya this Friday but they still need to be working to save life on this planet from Monday morning," said IUCN's Director of Conservation Policy, Jane Smart. "There is a momentum here which we cannot afford to lose — in fact we have to build on it if we stand any chance of success in halting the extinction crisis." In earlier reports the IUCN noted that a fifth of the world's vertebrates are under threat and the die-off of all species is at a level not seen in 65 million years.
Goodwill and compromise: Nagoya biodiversity deal restores faith in UN
After the failure of the Copenhagen climate talks, a successful agreement to protect biodiversity has provided a timely morale booster
Jonathan Watts guardian.co.uk 29 Oct 10;
In the long run, the biodiversity deal scratched out in Nagoya in the early hours of this morning is intended to benefit habitats and species such as tigers, pandas and whales. But in the short-term, the biggest beast to get a reprieve may well prove to be the UN itself.
After the misery, disappointment and anger of last year's climate talks in Copenhagen, the body was fiercely criticised and the entire multilateral negotiating process called into question. It seemed time-consuming, prone to grandstanding and dominated by selfish national interests rather than pressing global concerns.
At the start of this week, the talks in Nagoya looked likely to become another chapter in the same sorry story. But since then, there has been an impressive – and ultimately successful – willingness to work.
Square brackets (which denote areas of disagreement) have been steadily whittled away from the negotiating texts. Pragmatism has been more evident than ideology. Delegates actually seemed willing to listen to the advice of scientists warning of the perils of inaction.
Some key goals have been set, including a plan to expand nature reserves to 17% of the world's land and 10% of the planet's waters. For a scarred veteran of the Copenhagen or Tianjin climate talks, the extent of the progress, goodwill and readiness to compromise during these past few days has been pleasantly shocking. Right up to the final hour, there have been moments when the talks appeared on the verge of collapse. But negotiators have been flexible enough to skirt around the danger zone.
This is no accident. Ahead of this event – and not wanting to repeat the breakdown of last year's talks - the EU negotiating team was given a wider mandate. The same may be true of other nations.
That alone cannot explain why the results of Nagoya and Copenhagen were so different. Other factors include the smaller scale of this event and the expectations for it. There was less superpower pride and influence at stake: the United States is not a signatory and China has been relatively low-key. Brazil and the EU have bent over backwards to secure a deal. China and India have shown a willingness to compromise. Even Bolivia and Cuba complained but did not block.
The Japanese hosts also deserve a great deal of credit for the smooth organisation, though at times they have been almost comically hospitable in breaking up finelypoised negotiating sessions for food, drink and music receptions.
But the most important difference may be in implementation. One of the reasons why climate negotiations are so tetchy is because rival nations want stringent checks in place to make sure everyone complies and on course to realise their goals to reduce carbon emissions.
That is sadly not true for biodiversity targets, which tend to be vaguely worded and voluntary. Nature cannot complain if it gets cheated. This is a major reason why the last set of UN biodiversity goals were nowhere near being realised.
The drafters of the new Nagoya protocol say such lessons have been learned so a tighter road-map will be put in place that ties funds to progress, mobilises private finance as well as public funds and sees nature in terms of benefits to be shared rather.
One of the great achievements of this conference has been to highlight the fact that biodiversity is not just about saving a few cute animals, but about preventing risks to entire ecosystems, economies and ultimately human life. As a result, bird-lovers and tree-huggers have started to find common cause with insurers and investors.
In the conference centre last night, the mood was one of relief more than euphoria. But many expressed hope that this deal may provide momentum for the climate talks at Cancún next month. That seems optimistic.
It is too early too say whether Nagoya marks a turning point for UN multilateralism, let alone life on Earth. But for both, it is at least a much-needed morale booster.
UN seals historic treaty to protect ecosystems
Karl Malakunas Yahoo News 30 Oct 10;
NAGOYA, Japan (AFP) – A historic global treaty to protect the world's forests, coral reefs and other threatened ecosystems within 10 years was sealed at a UN summit on Saturday.
Rich and poor nations agreed to take "effective and urgent" action to curb the destruction of nature in an effort to halt the loss of the world's biodiversity on which human survival depends.
Delegates from 193 countries committed to key goals such as curbing pollution, protecting forests and coral reefs, setting aside areas of land and water for conservation, and managing fisheries sustainably.
"This is a day to celebrate," UN Environment Programme chief Achim Steiner said straight after the accord was struck early on Saturday morning following nearly two weeks of tense talks in the central Japanese city of Nagoya.
Hosts Japan hailed the agreement, Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara saying: "From now on, our country will contribute to the protection of biodiversity and positively support developing countries' efforts to implement the Nagoya protocol, with technologies and knowledge our country has."
Delegates and green groups also said the accord offered hope that the United Nations could help to solve the planet's many environmental problems, particularly after the failure of climate change talks in Copenhagen last year.
One of the most significant elements of the accord was a commitment to protect 17 percent of land and 10 percent of oceans so that biodiversity there could thrive.
Currently only 13 percent of land and one percent of oceans are protected.
Nevertheless, Greenpeace expressed disappointment at the new targets, which delegates said were lowered on the insistence of China and some other developing countries.
There were other limitations to the Nagoya pact -- including that the United States was not a signatory as it is one of the few countries not to have ratified the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
But while some green groups said the 20-point plan was not as ambitious as hoped, most still welcomed it as a historic step towards united global action in tackling biodiversity problems and raising awareness about the issue.
"Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth," WWF International director general Jim Leape said.
Greenpeace International stood out among the major environment groups with a critical stance.
Greenpeace had been pushing for 20 percent of oceans to be conserved, as a step towards an eventual target of 40-percent preservation.
"Alarm bells have been ringing for decades, and developed nations have been hitting the snooze button by delaying both action on and funding for environmental protection," Greenpeace said in a statement.
The accord was clinched after a last-minute breakthrough on an 18-year stand-off over "fairly" sharing the benefits and knowledge of genetic resource riches that are found mostly in developing countries.
Brazil, home to much of the Amazon basin and its global treasure trove of resources, had insisted throughout the summit that it would not agree to the 20-point strategic plan unless there was also a deal on genetic riches.
Brazil and other developing countries argued powerful nations and companies should not be allowed to freely take genetic resources such as wild plants to make medicines, cosmetics and other products for huge profits.
They had been battling developed countries -- where most of the drug and other companies that enjoy the benefits of genetic resources are based -- over the issue since the CBD was formed at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.
The European Union led developed nations in finally agreeing to the so-called Access and Benefits Sharing Protocol to ensure success on the 20-point strategic plan.
The legally binding protocol will ensure countries with genetic resources enjoy some of the profits of the assets' commercial development.
However many details of the protocol, such as how much this may cost pharmaceutical companies and developed nations, were left for later negotiations.
UN chiefs told the opening of the summit that forging a global consensus on protecting nature was vital to stop the mass extinction of animals and plant species.
Nearly a quarter of mammals, one-third of amphibians and more than a fifth of plant species now face the threat of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Pressure will only grow with the world's human population expected to rise from 6.8 billion to nine billion by 2050.
UN nature meeting agrees on land, ocean protection
Malcolm Foster, Associated Press Yahoo News 29 Oct 10;
TOKYO – Representatives to a U.N. conference on biodiversity agreed early Saturday to expand protected areas on land and at sea in the hopes of slowing the rate of extinction of the world's animals and plants and preventing further damage to its ecosystems.
After marathon negotiations that stretched hours past the designated time, delegates also managed to overcome divisions between rich and poor countries to agree to share access to and the benefits of genetic resources such as plants whose extracts have been developed into medicines — a key sticking point that had threatened to doom the entire two-week meeting in Nagoya, southwest of Tokyo.
Scientists estimate that the Earth is losing species 100 to 1,000 times the historical average, pushing the planet toward the greatest extinction age since the dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago. They warn that unless action is taken to prevent biodiversity loss, extinctions will spike and the intricately interconnected natural world could collapse with devastating consequences, from plunging fish stocks to less access to clean water.
Delegates from 193 countries at the U.N. Convention on Biodiversity agreed to protect 17 percent of the world's land areas and 10 percent of oceans by 2020. Those gains will be difficult to ensure, however, since there is no way to enforce these agreements, and many poor nations lack the funds to manage reserves properly.
Currently, 13 percent of the world's land areas and less than 1 percent of marine areas are protected — which can range from natural parks or marine sanctuaries to areas where there is sustainable fishing or land use.
The series of agreements — which each required a consensus — squeaked through after hours of debate, relieving many delegates who feared the conference would suffer the kind of collapse that befell U.N. climate talks last year. Participants stood and cheered when it was announced that agreements had been reached in all areas, attendees said.
"We are very glad for this, very happy with the outcome," said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Brazil's Secretary for Biodiversity and Forests. "We had some doubts, but in the end we were confident we would get results."
Some developing countries balked at how to pay for larger protected areas, and delegates agreed to set up a fund from developed nations and other donors by the convention's next meeting in India in 2012, Dias said.
Eager to make the meeting a success, host Japan on Thursday offered $2 billion to help developing nations reach the goals set by the conference.
Environmental groups welcomed the agreement, but said many of the targets were not bold enough.
"At a certain point in the evening, it looked like it was all going to fall apart, so this is good news," said Nathalie Rey, an oceans policy adviser with Greenpeace International. "I would've liked to have seen more ambitious targets, especially on protected areas."
Japan proposed a compromise text Friday to break a logjam in the prickly area of sharing genetic resources, called access and benefits-sharing, or ABS, in U.N. parlance.
Developing nations and indigenous peoples argue they haven't benefited from the bounty of their resources, such as native plants, that have been developed into drugs by wealthy Western pharmaceutical companies. But in the end, delegates reached an agreement to set up a system that seeks to share these profits and benefits more equitably.
Some 193 governments have joined the biodiversity convention. Only three have not: the United States, Andorra and the Holy See.
Nagoya meeting site: http://www.cbd.int/cop10/
Convention on Biological Diversity site: http://www.cbd.int/
Historic New Treaty Lays Out Ground Rules for Sharing Benefits of World's Wealth of Genetic Resources
UNEP 30 Oct 10;
Governments Also Agree Strategic 10 Year-Plan with Targets and Timetables to Combat Loss of Planet's Nature-Based Resources
Nagoya, 29 October 2010-After close to 20 years of discussion and debate, governments from across the globe today agreed to a new treaty to manage the world's economically-central genetic resources in a far fairer and more systematic way.
The approval, to establish an International Regime on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources (ABS), came on the last day of the convention on biological diversity meeting taking place in Nagoya, Japan.
The treaty, a Protocol to the main convention, lays down basic ground rules on how nations cooperate in obtaining genetic resources from animals to plants and fungi.
It also outlines how the benefits, arising for example when a plant's genetics are turned into a commercial product such as a pharmaceutical, are shared with the countries and communities who have conserved and managed that resource often for millennia.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) which administers the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), said: "This is a day to celebrate in terms of a new and innovative response to the alarming loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. And a day to celebrate in terms of opportunities for lives and livelihoods in terms of overcoming poverty and delivering sustainable development".
"It is also an important moment for the United Nations and the ability of countries to put aside the narrow differences that all too often divide in favour of the broader, shared issues that can unite peoples and nations. I would like to congratulate all governments concerned for bringing a fresh vision to the more intelligent management of life on Earth," he added.
The new Nagoya Protocol on ABS lays out rules on how derivatives—substances and compounds derived from genetic resources- will be dealt with under an ABS regime.
It also addresses the issue of traditional knowledge and pathogens—for example how developed countries may in emergency situations obtain a flu virus in order to develop a vaccine to counter a possible epidemic.
The Protocol also says governments should begin considering ways of recompensing developing countries for genetic material that may have been collected years, decades even centuries ago- if in future they become used to produce say a new pharmaceutical or crop variety.
One option may be to put a proportion of any profits arising into a special fund to be used by developing countries in order, for example, to build conservation or scientific capacity.
Strategic Plan
Governments also adopted a new strategic plan including targets for addressing biodiversity loss to be met b y 2020.
For example, governments agreed to increase the extent of land-based protected areas and national parks to 17 per cent of the Earth's surface up from around 12.5 per cent now, and to extend marine protected areas to 10 per cent, up from under one per cent currently.
Other elements of the extensive plan include, by 2020, lifting the extinction risk from known threatened species.
The meeting agreed to study resource mobilization for assisting developing countries to meet the new targets in the plan based on a methodology that relates support to needs and gaps.
Other decisions included taking a 'precautionary approach' in terms of emerging areas such as geo-engineering in order to combat climate change and the development of synthetic biofuels.
Mr. Steiner said the two-week meeting, building on 10 months of the UN's International Year of Biodiversity, had also delivered a sea change in the global understanding of the multi-trillion dollar importance of biodiversity and forests, freshwaters and other ecosystems to the global economy and to national economies, and in particular for the "GDP of the poor".
The case has been built via The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), an initiative hosted by UNEP, requested by G8 environment ministers as well as developing country ones and supported by governments including Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom.
In Nagoya the final, global TEEB report was launched as countries including Brazil and India announced they would be launching their own national TEEB studies.
A parallel and supporting partnership was also announced by the World Bank in collaboration with organizations including UNEP to 'green' national accounts in order to mainstream 'natural capital' within national economic and development plans.
The project is initially set to be implemented in between six and 10 countries including Colombia and Mexico.
"Conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity need catalytic, strategic, serious and targeted investments from the public sector that reflects also the links between biodiversity and for example climate change. But ultimately the billions—if not hundreds of billions- required will only come when public policies and incentives are aligned with nature in a way that unleashes private sector investments".
"This perhaps is the ultimate litmus test with natural capital given equal standing with human and financial capital. Indeed history may show that this may be the real success and legacy of 2010 and of the Nagoya meeting," he added.
"Nagoya has certainly set new benchmarks upon which the nations of the world will be judged by their citizens. This time round these targets need to be an inspirational and drivers of fundamental change towards a sustainable, Green Economy for the many and not just the few," said Mr. Steiner.
"I would like to thank and congratulate Ryu Matsumoto, the Minister of Environment of Japan and his team, for their hospitality but above all their determination, leadership and skill in navigating nations to this positive and potentially transformational conclusion," he added.
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